Rayne's POV:
I finally caught up with my dad deep in the heart of the woods. The trees towered above us, swaying with the gentle breeze that whispered through the dense foliage. As I emerged from the underbrush, I could see my dad standing there with three other members of our pack - Razor, Erik, and Jade. I couldn't help but wonder what they were up to. They seemed engaged in an intense conversation, their voices barely above a whisper. My dad held something in his hands, a small object that gleamed in the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. Intrigued, I approached them cautiously, not wanting to interrupt their discussion. As I drew closer, their attention shifted towards me, their piercing gazes burning into my soul. Razor, a burly and charismatic member of our pack, couldn't help but tease me. "Ah, Little Rebel, finally joining us! What mischief have you been up to lately?" he said, a smile spreading across his face. His nickname for me originated from my wolf training days as a kid when I would always find a way to bend the rules. It was a term of endearment, a reminder of my spirited nature. With a sly grin, I replied, "Oh, you know me, always stirring up trouble. But enough about me, what's going on here?" I gestured towards the object in my dad's hands, curiosity bubbling inside me.
My father's face softened, his eyes filled with pride as he glanced at his pack members. "We have stumbled upon something remarkable, my dear," he said, his voice laced with anticipation. 'These three found something in the woods'. "This," he held up the parcel, "this vase, is an ancient relic, belonging to the vampires. Legends say it possesses the blood of an original vampire, which if properly used, we could develop a weapon against the vampires that could even kill an original. " My heart skipped a beat as I absorbed his words. I didn't think it was a very good idea having a vampire family's relic in our possession. I tried to dissuade my father and the three others from carrying out such a plan. After all, I didn't see the necessity in creating weapons to kill vampires. I argued that perhaps we shouldn't be first to stir up trouble. But my words fell on deaf ears. My father and the others were convinced that this was the only way to finally rid Grimswood of vampires. My father was obviously blinded by his hatred and thirst for revenge.
'You don't understand, son,' my father said, his voice filled with determination. 'Vampires are ruthless, bloodthirsty creatures. There is no room for negotiation or understanding. Sooner or later, they'll come for us. We need these weapons to protect ourselves and innocent lives.' 'And don't you forget that vampires killed your mother.' His expression hardened. I sighed as I listened to my father's remarks. 'But Dad,' I began, 'maybe not all vampires are that bad.' My father's eyebrows rose in surprise. 'What are you talking about, son? These bloodthirsty creatures would occasionally attack and kill werewolves, they wouldn't allow us explore Grimswood, a town our ancestors discovered, or even the woods without fear of being attacked. How can you defend them?' At this point, Razor intercepted our conversation. 'We'll leave you both to come to a decision, and then we'll talk about it at our next pack gathering in two days.' 'Yea', Jade said, in agreement with razor, and the three of them walked away from me and my father.
After they left, I took a deep breath and tried to explain my perspective. 'Just think about it, Dad. It's not fair to judge all vampires based on the actions of a few ruthless ones. Maybe it's just a small group of vampires who are responsible for these killings. We can't paint all vampires with the same brush.' As I spoke, my thoughts drifted to the beautiful Lila that I had met and saved. She was the complete opposite of what my father and the rest of our pack believed vampires to be. She looked gentle, kind, and helpless. Plus the three vampires I met at the Mansion's gate, let me keep my life the previous night. They weren't all thoughtless killers.
'Dad, even our pack isn't perfect,' I continued. 'Take Jared's pack, for example. If you weren't a werewolf, would you think we are all menacing just because you met Jared?'
My father's expression softened as he considered my words. 'I see your point, son. But it's hard to trust these creatures who have been our enemies for centuries.' 'I know, Dad,' I replied. 'But maybe it's time to put aside those old grudges and give them a chance. We could find an alternative means to end this. Just like Lila, there could be other vampires out there who are willing to coexist peacefully with us.' My father sighed and ran a hand through his greying hair. 'I'll think about it,' he finally said. I knew it was a small victory, but it was a start. Maybe one day, our two species could live in harmony instead of constantly at battle with each other.
My father suddenly turned his piercing gaze towards me. 'Who is Lila?' he inquired, his voice laced with suspicion. My heart skipped a beat. 'Lila?' I repeated, my voice trembling slightly. "No one," I said, desperately trying to mask my unease as I rolled my eyes away from his penetrating stare. My father leaned in, his eyes narrowing with concern. "I could have sworn I heard you say the name. Rayne, are you hiding things from your own father?" His words hung in the air. 'Nope,' I replied, my voice steady but my thoughts racing. I couldn't afford to let my father uncover the truth that I saved a vampire, taken her to enemy territory thereby endangering my life which he devoted himself to protecting. 'Good,' He said, his voice tinged with relief. 'Do not ever think of going close to vampires,' he added, his tone firm. With those words, he turned and began walking home, I trailed behind, grateful I hadn't spilled the beans.
'Where are my clothes?' My father questioned, as he stopped walking. He was referring to the t-shirt and jacket he had handed to me a while back at Joe's Diner. Panic gripped my face as I realized he had been walking around in the woods completely naked. Quickly gathering my thoughts, I reassuringly replied, 'Here they are.' I clasped the neatly folded clothes under my armpit and handed them over to him. Seconds passed in silence before my mind registered the fact that my father had been completely exposed while interacting with the three pack members earlier in the woods. 'Werewolves are too primal!' I exclaimed silently, my mind filled with incredulity. As my father donned his shirt and jacket, we resumed our walk through the dimly lit forest. As we walked, my thoughts were fixated on Lila. My father's words echoed in my mind, warning me about the dangers of getting involved with vampires, but there was something special about her. I couldn't resist the allure, the pull that drew me towards her. I knew I had to see her again, and so I resolved in my mind to go look for her tonight, under the guise of checking up on her well-being.